With the January transfer window now just around the corner, Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard will no doubt be keen to strengthen his squad for the second half of the Premier League campaign.

The club have faced a number of issues with injuries and illnesses in recent weeks, with games being postponed left, right and centre, and it's unsurprisingly stretched the squad to its limit. However, one man who could finally make his mark given the situation around him is Morgan Sanson.

The £12.6m-rated Frenchman has played just four times in the Premier League this season, totalling only 135 minutes of football, but appears to really be putting the work in behind the scenes at Bodymoor Heath.

According to the Birmingham Mail's Ashley Preece, the former Marseille man has already caught the eye of his new manager. He wrote: "Gerrard's been really impressed with Sanson during the first few weeks - so it'll be fascinating to see if the Frenchman can chalk up five or six starts on the bounce to see what he's really made of."

The self-proclaimed "warrior" could offer Villa some vital midfield depth, especially with Marvelous Nakamba's injury; and if he can realise the kind of form and potential that people initially expected of him, he could become a big player for the club.

Speaking after his signing back in January, former Villa manager Dean Smith raved about the kind of qualities that the midfielder could bring to the club, saying: "He has got a big game mentality, he has played at the top of the French league for the last five years, played in the Champions League.

"He is a great technician and has great tactical awareness. He can play in a number of positions, can set up goals and can score goals. He has a bit of everything in his game so we’re really pleased with the acquisition." The rarely-seen Sanson could well be the kind of game-changer to add a bit extra to Villa's midfield over the coming weeks and months. Meanwhile, Villa are now eyeing this Brazilian striker...